Our Team
Dr. April Gessner,
Founder & Director
The founder of DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care, Dr. April Gessner, is passionate about doing veterinary volunteer work and has volunteered in several impoverished countries in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. While in veterinary school, she started an organization on the island of St Kitts so that students could gain hands-on experience while also helping the less fortunate with their pets. She was recently awarded the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Ross University for her international volunteer work. Dr. Gessner decided to start DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care so that she could help pets on a more local level just as she has done internationally.
Dr. Bennett Deddens,
Assistant Director
Dr. Bennett Deddens is a practicing veterinary radiologist in the Triangle area. He also happens to be Dr. Gessner’s loving husband! Dr. Deddens met Dr. Gessner during their veterinary training in St. Kitts, West Indies while volunteering for a local chapter of VIDA (Volunteers for Intercultural and Definitive Adventures) that was chartered by Dr. Gessner to provide free veterinary services for the local community. After completing their training, Dr. Gessner and Dr. Deddens started a family in the Triangle area and continue to share a passion for helping people and their pets by providing veterinary services to those in need within their community and beyond.
Dr. Hadiya Boyd,
Board Member & Lead Veterinarian
Dr. Boyd is a 2009 graduate of the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. She spent the first decade of her career in emergency medicine, but currently dedicates most of her time to shelter medicine and wellness/preventative care. Her volunteer work with DEGA, however, continues to be the absolute high point in an otherwise stressful industry, and she is constantly amazed and inspired by April’s tireless effort and selfless spirit.
“I am so proud to be a part of this organization in my own small way. Just a fantastic group of good people doing good work for the communities that need it most.“
Dr. Lee Pickett,
Veterinarian Volunteer
Dr. Pickett volunteers with DEGA because she is passionate about animals, recognizes the vital role pets play in people’s lives and is committed to strengthening the pet-human bond. She has practiced companion animal medicine, veterinary acupuncture and shelter medicine.
She writes a nationally syndicated pet care column and magazine articles, published two books on pet care, and developed and taught a course on veterinary medicine for pet people. She established a program to provide foster care for pets affected by domestic violence, has served on numerous animal-related boards of directors, and volunteers with national, state and local animal rescue organizations, shelters and emergency response teams.
Dr. Pickett graduated from Hartwick College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where she was awarded the Mikus Prize for proficiency in veterinary medicine and upholding the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
Beka Major,
Lead Registered Veterinary Technician
Beka graduated in 2012 from vet tech school and began working in neurology at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Matthews, NC. She became boarded as a veterinary technician specialist in neurology in 2019 and was recruited to help begin a new neurology service in Durham at TVRH in 2021.
Her job as a neurology technician is to perform neurological exams and gait analysis with her neurologist in order to localize where a problem is on dogs and cats (and the occasional lizard, turtle, or sheep). Then she is responsible for performing the MRI, CT scan, or diagnostics needed to diagnose the issue. She also helps teach pet families how to help care for their pet while they are having a neurological issue.
She volunteers for DEGA because she believes that everyone should have the love of a pet in their life if they want and being able to help make that possible for families is very important to her. DEGA also helps provide very important community support in more ways than just helping pets and she appreciates the opportunity to help.
Lexi Hansen,
Lead Registered Veterinary Technician
Lexi holds a Bs, LVT, RVT, & VTS (ECC) and started her career in the veterinary industry at Morrisville State College where she received her Bachelors in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She then went on to attend SUNY Delhi to obtain her Associates in Veterinary Technology. After becoming an LVT in New York in 2016, she moved to Charlotte, NC and obtained her RVT while pursuing her dream of working in emergency medicine. In 2020 she relocated to the Raleigh-Durham area to join the emergency and critical care department at Blue Pearl in Cary, NC. Working alongside three criticalists she was able to obtain her VTS(ECC) in 2021. Over the last year she has transitioned into a leadership role as the emergency and critical care technician manager.
In her spare time she loves to use the knowledge she has gained to help those in need, and give back to the community. She loves to volunteer with DEGA as she often meets the most kind and gracious owners and pets. She feels the human animal bond is an incredible thing and allowing those who have fallen on hard times to continue caring for their beloved pets is an incredible feeling.
When she is not busy at work or volunteering, she is spending time with her two pit bull fur children, baking, or gardening.
Nikki DeBardelaben,
Lead Veterinary Assistant
Nikki is a veterinary assistant at an animal hospital in Fuquay Varina, NC and is currently in school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. She is from the area and now resides in Fuquay Varina with her fiancé and two crazy dogs, Groot and Gertrude.
She met Dr. Gessner who was doing relief at the hospital she works at now. As they worked together they would converse about all things in life and that’s when Nikki found out that DEGA would soon be starting. Fast forward to the first clinic in February of 2021 where Nikki was one of the first volunteers & despite the controlled chaos and it being approximately 30 degrees outside with no feeling in their fingers, they all had the best time. Since then, Nikki has done many DEGA clinics, had meet-ups with Dr. G in the Kohls parking lot to help some canine friends, and adventured around Durham in the van to help those who can’t afford veterinary care.
"It is truly unbelievable how far DEGA has come in this short amount of time, but I am sure when I say that their adventure has only begun and I’m incredibly happy to be a part of it. Thank you to Dr. Gessner and all the other amazing doctors and volunteers who spend their time helping others. It’s really amazing to witness."
Felicia Williams,
Lead Veterinary Assistant
Felicia graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program at Miller Motte College in 2018.
She has worked for the Vets Pets Team for four and a half years as a veterinary assistant and most recently has been working as the Assistant Manager of Clinical Services with Rolesville Veterinary Hospital since July 2022.
She loves working for DEGA because she loves giving back. It is so rewarding to be able to give free medical care to those in need who love their fur babies, but can't always afford their medical care.
“Working with Dr. April is one of my favorite things to do during my free time. If I could do it everyday and still pay my bills, I would.”
Maryanne Kalman,
Client Coordinator
Maryanne is a retired RN who has a passion for animals and for keeping people & their pets together. She previously volunteered with Beyond Fences (formerly the Coalition to Unchain Dogs) for over 10 years, the SPCA of Wake County & currently with the Friends of Wake County Animal Center Community Outreach program. While graduating from University of Florida & Palm Beach State College gave her teaching & medical knowledge, she says her volunteering experiences honed her empathy & compassion skills.
“Outreach in the underserved portions of the community is my calling. Volunteering with DEGA feeds my soul because of the opportunity to help provide much needed medical care to pets who would not otherwise be able to receive it. I feel so grateful to work alongside a team of kind, caring humans who willingly use their time & talent to provide non judgmental care, education, and supplies to enrich these lives. The tail wags, purrs & smiles we get say it all! “
Mindy Nelson,
Fundraising Coordinator
Mindy decided to volunteer for DEGA after meeting April and hearing about her incredible mission. As one of her numerous careers in the past, she was the Fundraising & Event Coordinator for the SPCA in Annapolis, Maryland. Prior to that, she taught 1st grade for the public schools & then at a private school. She was in sales & marketing for a tax publisher in her early career years (pre-kids) when she lived in New York and relocated to Annapolis. She was able to travel extensively and was in charge of booths at professional conferences. She also helped her local Animal Control in Maryland with their fundraising initiatives.
Mindy graduated from a NY State school in Oneonta, NY with a Psychology degree & then received her Master's in Instructional Development from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) giving her certification to teach.
She’s been with her husband for 34 years, has two adult kids, and now has two beautiful grandbabies. Her fur baby, Savannah Jade, passed away on December 7, 2021 and she still mourns her loss.
